Hot line clamp



March 26, 1946. g, ADSWORTH 2,397,390

' I HOT LII IE CLAMP Filed Oct. 2 19 43 INVENTOR. GEORGE EARL WADSWOIZTH BY I Fig. 2.

Patented Mar. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE HOT LINE CLAMP George Earl Wadsworth; 'Erlanger, Ky. Application October 25, 1942.,seria1 No. 507,655

12 Claims. (01. 1173273) .The present invention relates to an electric transmission line fixture or attachment, commonly referred to as a hot line clamp." The purpose of such a fixture is to make a tap connection from the hot line to a transformer or other piece of equipment located at adistance from the transmission. line, the tap connection being so arranged that it may be repeatedly. disconnected and restored without injury to the main transmission line, and with due regardto the safety of the lineman or electrician whose duties require .him to install or service the electrical equipment.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved form of hot line clamp which is constructed of two parts, one of. which is connected permanently to the transmission line, and the other of which is. a connector unit to which a tap wire is attached, the connection between the parts being such as to present many advantages overknown forms of clamps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp of the character referred to, which greatly facilitates connection and disconnection of a tap wire, with a high degree of safety and with the elimination of arcing when the connection is made or broken.

Another object is to provide a hot line clamp so constituted that repeated connecting and disconnecting of a tap wire causes noinjury or abrasion of the main transmission line.

Another object is to provide a hot line clamp wherein threads andotherconstituent parts are protected from atmospheric corrosion, and from mechanical failure caused by ice and sleet to which the fixture may be exposed.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by the means described herein anddisclosed in the accompanying drawing, in Which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view. of a typical installation including the hot line clamp of the invention.

Fig. 2 isan elevational view of the clamp illustrated by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of. a modified form of hot line clamp.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view .taken on line 6-4 of Fig. 2, showing the clampconstruction.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on. line 55 of Fig. 3.

As illustrated by Fig. 1 of the drawing, atypical installation may consist of a transformer! or other'unit of transmission. equipment, suitably mounted upona pole 8 which furnishes also an aerial, support for the'electric' transmission line 9, which in ordinary practice is properly attached to insulator 10, carried by the pole. When the transmission line 9 is charged with high voltage electricity, it is commonlyknown as a hot line. Under certain circumstances, .it is necessary to make a tap wire connection 12 between the" hot line. and a transformer or other piece of equipment, at intervals along the length of the hot line." Tap connections such as I2 have been effected in the past, by merely providing a suitable clamp upon one endof the tap wire, the clamp carrying means for mechanically fastening it to the hot line. In those instances where the. tap wire clamp was bodily fastened to the hotline, andhad to be bodily removed from the hot line in its entirety in order to break the tap connection, there resulted the objectionable condition that'the hot line became dented or crushed with each reapplication of thetap wire clamp, thereby weakeningthe hot line and subjecting it to early deterioration, wherever'the tap line clamp might have been applied thereto. As will be understood, repeated application of "the tap wire clamp at the same location on the hot line, would soon damage the main line toa serious degree, and the practice of some linemen to replace the clamp at different locations along the main line merely aggravated thev condition by weakening themain line at a number of locations.

In accordance withthe present invention, the hot line clamp. is constructed of two parts, one of which isjthe line unit l3, and the other of which isthe connector. unit I4. Fig. 3 shows the partsin a disconnected relationship. The line unit asiillust'rated by Figs. 3 and 5, comprises a central bellor socket member l5 from which the arms l6 ,and H extend outwardly in opposite direction's tov provide stationary clamping seats l8 to engage the transmission line. The seats may be made, concave as indicated at l9, to provide proper seating for the Wire or transmission line 9.

-As illustrated by. Figs. 3 and 5, the part I8 may. be bored vertically as at 20 to receive the shank 2| .of'a screw. .22, the threaded upper end of'which threadedly engages the movable jaw 23 of the clamp. This jawmay be rendered concave whereitcontacts the transmission line. at 24, and will be seen to have. an elevating and lowering movement along the threads of screw 22 when the screw isrotated, it being understood that the bore of, the. movablejaw is internallythreaded. at 25. They shank of, screw 22 preferably is grooved at 26 .to receive, theinner end of a screw or pin 21 that prevents longitudinal shifting movement of the screw relative to the stationary-part l'8of the i clamp, and shoulder 28 on the screw is adapted to abut the underface of part I8 in tightening the screw and forcing the movable jaw onto the screw may be in the'form of a ring as shown, or

it may simply be formed as a hexagon bolt head above and concentrically with the bell portion 15 thereof. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a preliminary contact will be made for the passage of current from the bell to the plug before screw 31 enters the threaded bore 38 of the line unit, in the act of applying the connector unit to the line unit, so that no arcing will occur as the screw is driven toward and into the threaded bore of the line unit. When it is considered thatithe line unit may be suspended aconsiderable distance overhead, the advantage of providing the bell and plug arrangement for suitably elongated to firmly seat within the a socket portion of the hot line stick, this matter of the shape of the screw head being dependent upon the nature or construction of the-hot line stick to be used in holding the clarnpjand securing it to the transmission wire. It may benoted at this point in the description, thattheform of clamp illustratedby Fig. 3 will generally be so' hel'd-by a. hot line stick, asto make it possible for the lineman to elevate the line unit of the r clamp'to the location of the transmission wire,

hook the open jaws of the unit onto the wire and r then rotate the stick while in engagement with the'screw head, to close the jaws and permanentlyIattach the line unit to the wire. Such lifting of the line, unit into association with the transmission wire, is accomplished by using the hot line stick,..which includes a suitable socket in which the head 129 of the screw is securely held until the connection is completed.

As illustrated in the Fig. 3 drawing view, the

movable jaws of the line unit portion of the clamp may be furnished with guide fingers -3I adapted .for contactingthe stationary part I 8, to prevent rotation of the movable jaw 23 as the clamp screw is turned for gripping or releasing the line. wire. The'guide fingers shown at the left of Fig. 3 will not ordinarily be out of contact with the stationary jaw part l8 as illustrated, sincejit is seldom necessary to open the jaws to the extent indicated. 7 j

Y ".The'open'mouth portion of movable clamp 23 may. carry acentrally depending lip 32 adapted to. seat within a socket 533 of thevstationary lines 34to provide a cavityinto which may be projected the plug portion 35 formed at the upper end. of connector unit M; The plug may be considered an enlargement of the upper end of the connector unit, providingfor an extensive frictional and contacting area to be placed in frictional and conductive contact with the interior of the bell l5. The bell and the plug are to be complementarily tapered, toprovide' an adequate conductive area for electricity, anda considerable frictional area preventing rotation of the plug fwithin the bell in the tightened condition of the connector unit upon the line unit; Of importance in this connection, is' the fact that the generally tapered form of the plug and bell serves as a pre-contact means for the passage of current when the. plug is initially projected into the bell, prior to screwing the parts together. The parts are screwed together by rotating thehead 36' of screw 31,ithe upper end of which screwis adapted to threadedly engage an internally threaded bore 33fcrm'ed in the fixture guiding the screw 31 into alignment with bore 38, becomes readily apparent. It will be appreici ated also that the connector unit l4, being attached to a hot line stick, will likely contact :the bell at an angle, rather than in perfect axial alignment, so that conductive contact will be established prior to entry of the screw into the threaded bore 38.

In order to induce the pre-contact between the bell l5'and plug 35, before the threads of screw 3i1can enter the bore 38, screw 31 is normally urged downwardly by means of a spring 39 which applies a downward force to the shoulder 40 of.

the screw, Beneath the shoulder 40, the screw shank may, be reduced in diameter as indicated at, to provide a way in which may ride. the inner end of a screw 42, the function of which is. to limit the longitudinal movement 'of the screw relative to the body of the connector unit through which the screw extends. Although in the disconnected condition of the connector and line units, the screw is projected downwardly withits shoulder spaced from the body portion at 44, it is necessary only to project it upwardly against the resistance of spring 39 in order to effect the desired connection at 31'38. This upward projection of the screw occurs incidently to insertion of plug 35 into the interior of bell l5, the plug touching the bell before the upper end of the screw' enters threaded bore 38. 'Ifhuaelectrical contact is made beforethe screw threads are engaged, thereby preventing destructive arcing at the threads. 'Moreover, the screw is automatically aligned with bore 38, before the threads can be engaged, thereby precluding the possibility of crossingthe threads in the effort to apply the connector unit to the line unit. l The character 45 indicates a-tap wire connection on the connector unitywhich connection maybe disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis" of screw 31 as illustrated by Fig. 3, or in the horizontal position as illustrated at 45' of I Fig. 2.

' 'It may here be noted that a slight difference exists between the line units and connector units of Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig. 3, the enlarged head 35. is shown as an integral part of hollow housing 14 thatsupports the connector screw, whereas in Fig. 4 the plug is a separateparhindicated at I35, having itsupper center portion attachedto the screw housing at 46. This plug I35 may be in the form of a spun cup permanently attached to the screw housing H4. In all other respects, the connector units of Figs. 3 and 4 are identical. It may be noted that the upper end of'spring 39 is'backed up at 41, where the plug and the shank meet, so that the spring may have the necessary compressive force to constantly urge the screw to thedownw'ard or retracted position. The same formof spring arrangement is incorporated in g the connector unit I 4 of Fig. 3.

Asj concerns the 1m unit, it may be noted that the bell i5 thereof (Fig. 3) is cast integrally with heads 50.

the arms 16 and H, whereas in Figs. 2 and 4 the bell H5 is a spun cup suitably mounted as 31348 upon the central portion 49 of the unit. From the standpoint of service, it is quite immaterial whether the bell and plug be integral parts of the units, or separate .parts permanentlyattached to .the units, the only requirements being that the plug :be-permanently related to the connector unit, while the bell 'bepermanently connected to the line unit in position to receive the plug :as and for the purposes specified earlier herein.

The jaw structures of Figs. 2 and 3 are shown in different forms, that of Fig. 3 being oithe type used when the line unit is to be hooked onto an existing hot line. In that event, it is impossible for the lineman to closely approach the hot line, and for that reason is required to use a so-called :hot line stick in lifting the line unit up to the elevation of the hot line, hook the jaws onto'the latter, and then tighten the screws 32 by rotating the hot line stick attached to the ring heads of the screws. As will .be understood, the hot line stickhas a temporary connection with the rings or heads, so that the stick may be used for tightening both of the movable clamp jaws of the line unit.

In that form of line unit illustrated by Fig. 2, the movable jaws I23 may be drawn towardthe stationary jaws I I8, and tightened onto the transmission wire, by applying a wrench to the bolt 118-123 are suitable for use upon line units that are to be attached to transmission wires not charged with electricity, as the lineman may in that event work in close proximity to the unpossesses various advantages and features of merit over known forms of clamps. It may be inexpensively manufactured, and parts of the two forms of'clamp illustrated are made interchangeable, thereby reducing the number of parts to be kept on hand for replacements and repairs. One point of merit that has not been stressed previously, is the protection against corrosion and deterioration afiorded the connecting screw that holds the line unit and the connector unit together. It will be seen that said screw, and its threads particularly, are adequately enclosed by the hollow bell arrangement and for that reason corrosion may not be stimulated by atmospheric conditions, nor can sleet and ice interfere with manipulation of the screw.

Whenever the circuit is to be broken through the tap wire, it is necessary only to'separate the line unit from the connector unit at the bell by unscrewing the screw 31, whereupon the parts will separate as illustrated by Fig. 3. It is never necessary, for this purpose, to release the transmission wire from the grip of the line unit clamp jaws, and for that reason the transmission wire is subjected to no abuse such as might impair its strength or crush its strands. Moreover,

swinging of the tap wire, or any outside forces acting upon it, cannot initiate a loose connection between the line unit and the connector as this is fiectively prevented by the extensive frictionalclutcliin-g area afforded by the enlarged Jawsof the character. indicated at plu se tins w t e-e la ed et this friction, is established before the connector screw can enter the line unitbore, in-completi-ng-the tap wire connection, the-driving and ti ghtening -.;of the connectorscrew cannot possibly inducerotat-ion of the connector unit and thereby twist or wrapthe tap wire aboutthe fixture; nor can such twisting or wrapping of theqtap wire occur incident to loosening-the screw to breakthe connection, for the same reason. 7

Various other important advantages and features of merit have been mentioned throughout the description, and othersuof .lesser concern will become manifest to personskilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

What .is claimed is:

l. A clamp o'f'the character described,- which comprises in combination, .a pair of separable units one including means for attachment thereof to a line wire,,.and thoother including attachment means for a tapwire, threadedly engageable connecting means iorsaid units, and a pair .of cooperative metallic bell members :arranged for establishing an electricalconnection between theunitsin advance of engagement of said connecting means, to preclude arcing at the connecting means as same are threadedly engaged.

2. A clamp of the characterdescribed, which comprises in combination, a pair of separable units one includingmeans for attachment thereof to a "linewire, and the other includingmattaohment meansfor a tap wirethreadedly engageable connecting means for said units, and

pre-contact means iorestablishing an electrical connection between the units in advance of engagement of said connecting means, said precontact means comprising a metallic bell socket on one unit and a metallic plug on the other unit to concentrically enter the socket and align the engageable connecting means for engagement.

. 3. A clamp of the character described, which comprises'in combination, a pair of separable units one including means for attachment thereof to a line wire, and the other including attachment means for a tap wire, engageableconnecting means for saidunits, and cooperative metallic plug and socket members on said units making electrical connection between the units in advance of engagement of said connecting means, .to preclude arcing at theconnecting means as same are engaged, said plug and socket members being enlarged and bearing extensive friction faces cooperating to resist relative rotation of the units "from a desired relationship as the connecting means are manipulated for complete engagement.

4. 'A hot line clamp comprising in combination, a pair of separable units one including securing means for attachment thereof to a transmission line, and the other including securing means for a tap wire, and means for detachably mounting one of said units upon the other in electrically contacting condition, said detachable mounting means including a tapped-hole in one unit and a screw on the otherunit having a threadedend for engagement with the threads of said tapped hole, and cooperative means on the units for establishing electrical-contact between the units incident to and in advance of driving the. screw of the one unit into the tappedhole of the other unit, thereby to precludedestructive arcing rat the screw threads in efiectingthe mounting .of the one unit upon the other.

I 5. A hot use clamp comprisingincombination, a pair-of separable units one including securing means for attachment thereof to a transmission line, and the other'including securing means for atap wire, and means for detachably mountingj' tact means comprising atapered socket on oneunit 'and a correspondingly'tapered plug on the other unit for entry into the socket.

6. A hot line clamp comprising in combination,

a "pair of separable units one including securing means -for attachment thereof to a transmission line, and the other including securing means for a tap wire, and means for detachably mounting one of said units upon the other in electrically contacting condition, said detachable mounting means including a tapped hole in one unit, and a screw on the other unit having a threaded end for engagement with the threads of said tapped hole, and cooperative means on the units for establishing electrical contact between the units incident to and in advance of driving the screw ofthe one unit into the tapped hole of the other unit, thereby to preclude destructive arcing at 1 the screw threads in effecting the mounting of the one unit upon the other, said electrical con- 1 tact means comprising a tapered socket on'one unit and a correspondingly tapered plug on the other unit for entry into the socket, the socket being on that unit which attaches to the transmission wire, and inverted to preclude entry of 'foreign matter between'the socket and theplug.

. '7. A clamp, of the character described, com- 1 prising in combination, a line unit including an inverted cup-shaped socket, a threaded bore centrally of the socket, and means on said unit for suspending same from a'conductor of electricity, a connector unit adapted for detachable mounting thereof to the lineunit, said connector unit comprising a longitudinally bored body havj ing opposite ends, a plug fixedly related .to one end of the-body and shaped for'seating engagement within the socket of the line unit, said a plug having an opening at one of its ends in alignment with the hereof the body, ascrew reciprocable in the body bore, and having a head end and a threaded end, the threaded end being slidably extensible through the opening, of .the plug, meansassociated with the screw for yieldingly urging the screw away from the plug and to a retracted position at which the threaded end ofthe screw remains substantially wholly within the confines of the plug'and body, said threaded end being engageable with the threaded bore of the line unit uponshifting 0f the screw bodily toward theline unit'and rotating it in thread-engaging direction, and means carried by r the connector unit body for attachment of a tap wire thereto.

8. A clamp 'of the character described; com.

prising in combination, a line unit including an inverted cup-shaped socket,a threaded bore c'entrally of the socket, and means .onxsaid unit for suspending same from. a'conductor of electricity,

aconnector unit adapted for detachable mounting thereof to the line unit, said connector unit comprising a longitudinally boredbody having opposite ends, a plug fixedly related to one end of the body and shaped for seating engagement within the socket of the line unit, said plug having -an opening at one of itsends in alignment with the bore of the body, a screw reciprocable in the body bore, and having a head end and a threaded end, the threaded end'being slidably extensible through theopening of the plug, means associated with the screw for yieldingly urging the screw away from the plug and to a retracted position at which the threaded end of the screw remains substantially wholly within the confines 5 of the plug and body, said threaded end being enageable with the threaded bore of the line unit upon shifting to the screw bodily toward the line unit and rotating it in thread-engaging direction,

'trally of the socket, and means on said unit forsuspending same from a conductor of electricity, a connector unit adapted for detachable mounting thereof to the line unit, said connector unit comprising a longitudinally bored body having opposite ends, a plug fixedly related to one end of the body and shaped for seating engagement within the socket of the line, unit, said plug having an opening at one of its ends inalignment with the bore of the body, a screw reciprocable in the body bore, and having a head end and a threaded end, the threaded end being slidably extensible through the openingof the plug, means associated with the screw for yieldingly urging the screw away from the plug and to a retracted position at which the threaded end of the screw remains substantially wholly within the confines of the plug and body, said threaded end being engageable with the threaded bore of the'line unit upon shifting of the screw bodily toward the line unit and rotating it in thread-engaging direction, andmeans carried by the connector unit body for attachment of a tap wire thereto, said plug and socket beingcorrespondingly tapered to induce ready seating thereof and to place the threaded end of the screw in axial alignment with the threaded bore of the socket, the socket and plug being in electrically communicative relationship' with the line unit and the connector unit,

wherebyto establish an electrical circuit through saidumts in advance of entry of the screw into the threaded bore aforesaid, to preclude arcing at the threads.

10. An electric fitting comprising in combination, a line unit including a metallic cup-shaped socket, a threaded bore located centrally, of the socket, and a connectorj unit adapted for detachable mounting thereof to the line unit, said connector unit comprising a longitudinally bored body having opposite ends, a plug fixedly related to one end of the body and shaped for seatin en.'.

gagement within the socket of the line unit, said plug having an opening at one of its ends in alignl .ment with the bore of the body, ascrew reciprocablein the body bore, andhavin'gj-a head end and a threaded end, the threaded end being slidably extensible through the opening of the plug, means associated with the screw for yieldingly urging the screw away from the plug and to a retracted position at which the threaded end of the screw remains substantially wholly within the confines of the plug and body, said threaded end being engageable with the threaded bore of the line unit upon shifting of the screw bodily toward the line unit and rotating it in thread-engaging direction, and means carried by the connector unit body for attachment of a tap wire thereto.

11. An electric fitting comprising in combination, a line unit including a metallic cup-shaped socket, a threaded bore located centrally of the socket, and a connector unit adapted for detachable mounting thereof to the line unit, said connector unit comprising a longitudinally bored body having opposite ends, a plug fixedly related to one end of the body and shaped for seating engagement within the socket of the line unit, said plug having an opening at one of its ends in alignment with the bore of the body, a screw reciprocable in the body bore, and having a head end and a threaded end, the threaded end being slidably extensible through the opening of the plug, means associated with the screw for yieldingly urging the screw away from the plug and to a retracted position at which the threaded end of the screw remains substantially wholly within the confines of the plug and body, said threaded end being engageable with the threaded bore of the line unit upon shifting of the screw bodily toward the line unit and rotating it in thread-engaging direction, and means carried by the connector unit body for attachment of a tap wire thereto, said plug and socket being correspondingly tapered to induce ready seating thereof and to place the threaded end of the screw inv axial alignment with the threaded bore of the socket, the socket and plug being in electrically communicative relationship with the line unit and the connector unit, whereby to establish an electrical circuit through said units in advance of .entry of the screw into the threaded bore aforesaid, to preclude arcing at the threads.

12. A hot line clamp comprising in combination, a pair of separable units one including securing means for attachment thereof to a transmission line, and the other including securing means for a tap wire, separable connection means carried by said units for detachably mounting one of said units upon the other in electrically contacting condition, and cooperative means on the units for establishing electrical pre-contact between the units incident to and in advance of engaging the separable connection means of the one unit with that of the other unit, thereby to preclude destructive arcing at the separable connection means in effecting the mounting of the one unit upon the other, said electrical pre-contact means comprising a tapered socket on one unit and a correspondingly tapered plug on the other unit for entry into the socket.

GEORGE EARL WADSWORTH. 

